Common Name:

General Information

Osyris alba is a small, slender shrub that can grow up to 120cm tall[].
The plant has demonstrated potential use as a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Mediterranean region - found throughout the Mediterranean, extending to Bulgaria but excluding Egypt.

Habitat

Dry, rocky habitats[].

Properties

Habit	Shrub
Height	1.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Osyris alba is a plant of dry localities found throughout the Mediterranean. It strongly dislikes wet climates and is also not very cold tolerant, able to withstand short-lived temperatures falling to around -5°c[].

A parasitic plant[].
Sometimes grown as an ornamental, valued for the summer flowers and bright-red, pea-sized fruits that follow[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Extracts of the plant have been shown to be useful in the control of postprandial blood glucose, their effects being achieved mainly through inhibition of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes (amylases and glucosidases). Due to the mechanism involved in controlling blood glucose, such plant extracts are expected to be also helpful in the management of obesity[]

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Softwood cuttings in a frame[].